Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Great Crested Flycatcher
Scientific name:	Myiarchus crinitus
Date:	9/23/18
Time:	8:55 AM
Length of time observed:	5 minutes on the initial sighting. Seen twice more in the following days totaling ~15 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	unk
Sex:	unk
Location:	Bountiful Pond
County:	Davis
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	25 feet at min
Optical equipment:	8x42 Leica Ultravid HD
Weather:	clear , sunny morning
Light Conditions:	seen in both direct sunlight, deep shadow, and stippled light
Description: Size of bird:	Largish passerine, about the size of a Cardinal, smaller than a Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Typical flycatcher posture, very upright, slightly heftier and noticeably longer-tailed than a Eastern Kingbird. Angular head and a noticeably stout bill.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Bright yellow belly, lead gray chest with a strong line of demarcation, dull greenish back, dark wings and dark tail with distinct rufous highlights.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Hefty, tubular flycatcher bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	My first views were of the back of the bird and the bold white tertial fringes and extensive rufous in the tail jumped out at me. It sallied and landed briefly and I saw the bright yellow belly and the strong line of demarcation between the belly and chest and I immediately reached for my camera. I had camera issues and got completely unusable photos of the bird and while I was attempting to sort out the camera the bird disappeared. I knew what I had but I didn't have proof but I send out a message about a probable GCFL and went back to the looking for the bird. I was unable to see it again but during this period some large bird of perch flushed and it gave the familiar " Wreep Wreep" call. I thought t had gone one way but after getting disgusted and heading back to the car I ran into another birder who told me she had just seen a Myiarchus and had dismissed it as an Ash-throated Flycatcher. She took me back to where she had seen it and we quickly relocated the bird and got good but distant views. It disappeared again but we again relocated it, much closer, and I got a few poor photos and just missed absolutely crushing it when it posed very briefly in perfect light. During this period the pale base to the bill was visible several times (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Classic, "Wreep, wreep" call heard once
Behavior:	Very active. constantly flycatching. Typically closing fairly hight perches.
Habitat:	mixed deciduous.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Bright yellow belly, contrasting dark gray chest, bold white tertial fringes, extensive rufous coloration in the tail, pale base to the bill, hefty overall build, and stout bill eliminated all other Myiarchus. Ash-throated Flycatcher is the only likely species in range and is distinctly smaller, paler, with a less contrasting appearance and different call.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Seen and heard many thousands of Great Crested Flycatchers including having them nest in my yard in NJ two summers ago. Ash-throated I'm also very familiar with from birding extensively in south TX, SE AZ, the PJ habitat of western Colorado, and California.
References consulted:	None
Description from:	Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Cameron Cox
Observer's address:	1479 S 35 E, Farmington, UT 84025
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Seen by many over the next few days
Date prepared:	10/26/18
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	I was actually looking for this bird when I found it. I had briefly seen a Myiarchus on Sept 21st in weird light that I had called a ATFL, but that didn't sit well. I made trips back on the evening of the 21st and on the the 22nd looking for this bird before finding it on the 23rd. My look at the initial Myiarchus was so brief that I'm not certain it was the GCFL but I strongly suspect it was.